The Co Cavan ref will take to the pitch for the Ulster minor clash between Fermanagh and Antrim.

However, it won't be the first time Ms Farrelly has broken down barriers.

Last season she became the first woman to officiate a men's senior inter-county match in Croke Park, when she was a lineswoman for the Allianz League clash between Kerry and Dublin.

"It's a great honour and something that you can only dream about," she said at the time.

The Laragh woman, who graduated from Letterkenny Institute of Technology with a degree in Business in Sports Development and Coaching in 2011, started out officiating for ladies football. Then, in 2006, she was asked to help out in the men's game in Cavan as there was a shortage of referees in the Breffni county.

Social media users were thrilled to learn that Farrelly would be taking charge of a man's game.

"Delighted to hear reports that Maggie Farrelly will ref Ulster MFC this weekend #GAA," Tracey Kennedy from Cork wrote on Twitter.

Last night Alan Milton from the GAA told the Belfast Telegraph that Sunday marks another special day in the organisation's long history.

"We welcome the Ulster appointment of Maggie Farrelly," he said. "It is one that is made entirely on merit.

"It is a very positive development for the GAA.

"We have thousands of ladies who are prominent at all levels of the GAA.

"We are delighted the contribution of females will be so evident this weekend."